LOGINTaking a deep breath, I nodded. Slowly, I walked into the room filled with faces I had never seen before. All people of high status. I walked with my head high, focusing on the beautiful arrangements of the white orchids until I reached the altar where the priest and Owen stood. I could feel all eyes on me. Some stared with curiosity, others with distant repulsion. It was the fault of the media, the fault of the contract, and entirely the fault of the man I was about to marry. The man I was about to marry. The room went quiet as my eyes finally found him on the same altar I stood on. He looked utterly breathtaking in a bespoke black suit. Hazel eyes looking deep into me, making feel naked under his gaze. His raven black hair was combed back, little strands decorated his forehead and neckline. The scent of ceder filled my nostrils as he took my hand in his. The touch, usually so cool, was filled with so much warmth as it was firm. "Good day brothers and siste
I held my breath at his touch. He reached out to trace the line of my collarbone, a grin tugging at his lips, hazel eyes holding mine. "You're shaking. Nervous?" His touch ignited a familiar fire-ice sensation "It's a huge wedding, Owen. I'm anxious about the public scrutiny." His gaze dropped to my lips. "You're beautiful." I gulped down saliva. "They'll be looking at the dress, the ring and the woman who managed to tame the untameable. Play the part, and you have nothing to fear." He had just reminded me of my role again, yet spoken with that distracting, dangerous warmth. The first step towards my freedom was to be the perfect Mrs. Owen Carter for the next Twenty-four hours. "My mum is already here. Sana and Rachel will be arriving tomorrow. " A faint smile touched his lips. "Good. We need family support for cameras. Now," he gave the designer a nod. "Make sure she can breathe in that thing. She needs to look happy, not strangled." As he left
The silk pyjamas on my body felt like a lie. They were a gift from Owen's private shopper, pale gold and impossibly soft. I stood by the floor-to-celling windows of the penthouse, watching the endless lights of New York, my stomach churring with cold anxiety. The calendar read Friday, the wedding was Saturday. My parents had been informed about everything, except the contract. We could risk anyone else knowing that all this was fake, they were in an apartment Owen had rented out specially for them. Of course they had no objections, everyone wanted to be a part of the Carter family. It was a privilege. Since that passionate night I had walked out of his bathroom in that ridiculous attempt to seduce him, Owen had been subtly different. His eyes lingered on me. His voice was lower when he addressed me. He'd even taken to casually touching the small of my back when we walked past each other in the halls. It didn't seem like genuine affection to me. More like pos
The scent of gardenias was choking. It felt wrong in the air around me. The scent that filled my nostrils came from a huge bunch of flowers sent thirty minutes ago, meant for "Mr and Mrs Carter." The flowers were a harsh, sweet reminder that the wedding was two days from now, and I was not the one getting married. I stared back at the card in my hand, it was unsigned. Probably sent by some company boss hoping to get on the guest list. I used the tip of a silver letter opener to pick up the card. The name on it-Mrs. Owen Carter-was a lie. That title belonged to me. It was meant for me. I had spent the last hour cutting up every magazine picture that showed Tessa Hayes. The gossip magazines were everywhere, and she was wearing my diamond, a stone I had helped Owen choose for myself years ago. My pain was not the deep sad kind you feel when you lose someone you love. It was the cold, hard pain of having something stolen. Owen was never supposed to say no to me. I was h
"Why is the gold digger here?" Evelyn spat. "Surprised to see me so soon?" I retorted, giving her a little smirk. Owen ignored us both and went to sit on his chair at the head of the table, signalling me to come sit by his side. After we had settled down, one of the board members spoke. His voice rough from old age. "Explain to us, Mr. Carter, what the girl that almost dragged our merger deal into the mud is doing here." Owen relaxed on his chair as he studied the faces of all six members present in the room. "Ms. Hayes and I are getting married, publicly." Gasps erupted around the room, Evelyn's own the loudest. "What? What about Juliette?" She asked, her eyes slowly assessing me again. "Juliette attacked me at the Grand Terminal, put our merger deal in danger by trying to expose the Cerberus case, tried to sabotage my relationship with my fiancée, and worse, tried to eliminate Ms. Hayes permanently." His eyes looked at his mother as talked, as if to make sure she grabbed
"What a pleasant surprise." I was trying my best to sound casual. Austin smiled, his eyes roamed around my body and landed back to my eyes in seconds. I was already getting uncomfortable. "Good to see you Tessa. How are-" "Don't pretend like we're good Austin. Because we aren't." I said, remembering the last time I saw him. He switched gears immediately. "Tessa, listen. I was a fool to let you go. I realise now that I was blinded by a lot of things. Tessa, please come back to me. I'll end things with Clarissa right now. " I scoffed. There was no way he was going to do that, and even if he was, Clarissa could have him. I didn't care. "Austin, I'm flattered. But I am getting married." I said trying to mock him by being polite. Austin's face fell and he scoffed. "You're getting married? Your CEO boyfriend dumped you to be with a woman that actually fits his class. You have to be joking." Jerk! I thought. One minute he was begging me and another minute he opened his m







